Leverstock Green’s winless run goes on after they were well-beaten by high-flying Barton Rovers in Tuesday night’s Southern League fixture. Leverstock were unlucky to be behind after a largely even first half, but a lacklustre second half display saw the home side take control of the game.

After a quiet opening to the game, Josh Dooley had to clear a cross off the line in the 18th minute, and two minutes later Harry Way made a save at his near post. At the other end Jeffrey Sekyere had a shot parried away by home keeper Ben Heath in the 28th minute, and a minute later Marcus Warren curled a shot just over the bar.

Leverstock’s frailty from corners was in evidence again in the 39th minute as Albie Hall rose highest at the near post to head Barton into a 1-0 lead. Leverstock should have equalised just before the break when a good chance fell to Warren, but he hit it straight at the keeper.

Four minutes into the second half Leverstock made the fatal mistake of giving the ball away on the halfway line, and were instantly punished as a pass down the left side put Hall through to drill home a shot from a narrow angle to double Barton’s lead.

Leverstock might have pulled a goal back in the 58th minute as Warren pulled the ball back from the bye-line to Sekyere, but a momentary delay on the shot allowed a defender to get a boot in and deflect it over the bar. Instead they went 3-0 down two minutes later when a contentious free kick was floated into the box and former Leverstock player Rawn Seale was free to shoot home.

There was a consolation goal for Leverstock in the 90th minute as Tom Georgiou struck an excellent shot from the edge of the box into the corner of the net. However, while pushing for another goal they were caught on the break in the 3rd minute of stoppage time and Marcus Gouldbourne scored a fourth goal for Barton.

Barton Rovers (1) 3 (Hall 39, 49, Seale 60, Gouldbourne 90+3)
1. Ben Heath, 2. Michael Buckmaster (15. Ryan Neufville 76 mins), 3. Tom Baggaley, 4. Ashton Grant, 5. Kai Phelan (14. Charlie Milton 76 mins), 6. Mason Watkins (16. Reece Perry 70 mins), 7. Marcus Gouldbourne, 8. Alfie Warman (12. Saul Williams 70 mins), 9. Albie Hall (17. Jamie Breen 65 mins), 10. Rawn Seale, 11. Lucas Jordan.
Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Georgiou 90)
1. Harry Way, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Dan Casey, 4. Josh Dooley, 20. Bendie Idikayi, 6. Thomas Georgiou, 7. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Jeffrey Sekyere, 10. Marcus Warren (14. Jael Norville 66 mins), 11. Iker Noguera Leon (12. Joe McCarthy 51 mins). Subs not used: 15. Aldo Petagine, 18. Tommy Boxer, 19. Scott McGleish.

Leverstock Green are still looking for their first win in the Southern League, but they were unlucky to come away from Monday’s visit to Barton Rovers empty-handed. A squad depleted by injuries and unavailability, and still feeling the effects of last week’s extra time exertions at Heybridge, was reduced to ten men before half time yet battled superbly throughout the second half only to concede the winning goal ten minutes from time.

Leverstock almost took the lead in the 14th minute after an excellent move. Nat Connolly pushed forward and laid off to Alie Bangura, whose ball across the box found Lewis Collins, whose well-struck shot hit the bar. Three minutes later they did take the lead. This time it was Jamie Breen pushing forward into the Barton half before laying off to Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, who cut inside before shooting home from a narrow angle for his second goal in two games.

The lead only lasted for sixteen minutes. In the 33rd minute the referee adjudged that Breen’s tackle on former Green player John Shamalo was a foul, and awarded a penalty to Barton. Taylor Rhiney netted the spot kick to level the scores.

Rhiney could have added a second in the 39th minute as Barton broke quickly from a Leverstock corner, but Alfie Bonfield came off his line to block the shot. Two minutes from half time disaster struck for Leverstock as they were reduced to ten men. Breen brought down Shamalo again as he was heading towards goal, and the referee adjudged that Breen was the last man and showed a straight red card.

That left Leverstock with – literally – an uphill struggle in the second half on Barton’s sloping pitch, and with four inexperienced reserve team players on the bench there were limited options for change. Barton had the Leverstock goal under siege for the early part of the half, but a series of blocks and resolute defending kept the scoreline intact. Leverstock occasionally threatened on the break, but with Bangura and Stefanoaica both having to be replaced, the goal threat was reduced.

After the initial flurry from Barton had died down, Leverstock looked to have weathered the storm, until ten minutes from time. A ball into the box was flicked on to Shamalo, who produced a clinical first time finish to fire the ball past Bonfield.

Ultimately they came away with nothing, but the effort of the Leverstock side can’t be faulted at all, and once they get a few of their players back they should be able to add to their points tally. Leverstock have games in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy before their next league game.

Barton Rovers (1) 2 (Rhiney 33 pen, Shamalo 80)
1. Tyler Josephs, 2. Ryan Neufville, 3. Cameron Hyde, 4. Ashton Grant (14. Tom Silford 69 mins), 5. Charles Milton, 6. Christian Swaby, 7. Alfie Warman (12. Martel Powell 69 mins), 8. Lucas Kirkpatrick (16. Robbie Goodman 90+1 mins), 9. Matthew Moloney, 10. John Shamalo, 11. Taylor Rhiney. Subs not used: 13. Cameron Groom, 15. Jaden Brown.
Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Stefanoaica 17)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Jamie Breen, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Josh Dooley, 6. Ryan Carruthers (17. Scott McGleish 89 mins), 7. Lewis Collins, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Alie Bangura (15. Schilo Mateta-Kanda 54 mins), 10. Nat Connolly (16. Connor McGinty 78 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (12. Ronnie Brennan 74 mins). Sub not used: 14. Alfie Herd.